Freesia laxa Rainbow

Our plant friend, JoAnn Trial of Texas shared these amazing multi-colored Freesia laxa from her garden. This little-known, summer-dormant iris relative, native from South Africa to Kenya, was only discovered and named in 1971. We've spent years trying to sort them by colors, to no avail, since they seed so readily, and each seedling varies in color. The only answer was to offer them as a mixed seed strain. Colors range from lavender to pink, to carmine, with an occasional white. In our trials, Freesia laxa is quite adaptable, thriving in sun and light shade, as long as the soils don't stay too moist.